MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 



241 



him to Tahiti. Thence, wishing to return to Rotuma, they had 

 taken passage with Captain Egleston, about five years before we 

 saw her. On reaching Muthuata, they were induced to land and 

 remain with some of her countrymen, of whom they found many at 

 this place. Unfortunately, the king saw and took a liking to her, and, 

 to remove all obstacles, killed and ate her husband, and compelled 

 her to become his wife. 



Henrietta is of a fair complexion and good-looking. In other 

 respects she cannot be distinguished from the Feejee women ; for 

 her hair, which, on her arrival, was straight and black, has, by friz- 

 zling, twisting, and colouring, become like that of the natives of these 

 islands. She is discontented with her position, and anxious to escape, 

 which, however, she finds impossible. 



The third wife is a Feejee woman, who is not regarded by the king 

 with as much favour as the others. 



HENRIETTA S HOUSE. 



Each of these wives has a separate house, and the king spends his 

 time in Ringing alternately in them during the greater part of the 

 day. These visits constitute the great business of his life. 



Of these three royal ladies, Yandi Muthuata was the favourite with 

 the officers of the squadron. She always received them courteously, 

 and would, on their entrance, immediately lay aside such household 

 occupations as she and her women were generally found engaged in, 

 for the purpose of attending to and conversing with them. 



Henrietta, on the other hand, was occasionally found in ill-humour, 

 which, however, is not to be wondered at, when we consider her 

 history. 



On the beach at Muthuata were two fine and large canoes, one of 

 which belonged to the king, the other to his son. 



VOL. III. 61 



